import pygame
from pygame.sprite import Sprite

class Alien(Sprite):
    """A class to represent a single alien in the fleet."""
    
    def __init__(self, ai_game):
        """Initialize the alien and set its starting position."""
        super().__init__()
        self.screen = ai_game.screen
        self.settings = ai_game.settings
        
        # Create alien surface and get its rect.
        self.image = pygame.Surface((40, 30))
        self.image.fill((0, 255, 0))  # Green color for aliens
        self.rect = self.image.get_rect()
        
        # Start each new alien near the top left of the screen.
        self.rect.x = self.rect.width
        self.rect.y = self.rect.height
        
        # Store the alien's exact horizontal position.
        self.x = float(self.rect.x)
        
    def check_edges(self):
        """Return True if alien is at edge of screen."""
        screen_rect = self.screen.get_rect()
        if self.rect.right >= screen_rect.right or self.rect.left <= 0:
            return True
            
    def update(self):
        """Move the alien right or left."""
        self.x += (self.settings.alien_speed * 
                   self.settings.fleet_direction)
        self.rect.x = self.x